Maine governor says he won't talk to 3 newspapers

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- A spokeswoman for Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the administration will no longer comment for stories published in three of Maine's daily newspapers.

Adrienne Bennett told the Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/17Wn2Of ) on Tuesday the administration won't be talking to that publication, the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel. All are owned by MaineToday Media.

Bennett's comments follow a series this week about the Department of Environmental Protection under Commissioner Patricia Aho. In an article Tuesday with reaction to the series, Bennett said the newspaper has a political agenda and said the administration would respond by submitting a column to it.

Press Herald Executive Editor Cliff Schechtman says the paper will continue "doing probing journalism on behalf of citizens" whether or not the administration has a gag order in place.